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Family Gramineae: Almost one fourth of the earth's vegetation cover is in grasslands—the great prairies and plains of North America, the extensive pampas of South America, the steppes of Asia, and the velds of Africa. At least 7,000 species of grasses are known. The grass family (Gramineae) is outranked in number of species only by four other families-the bean family (Leguminosae), daisy family (Compositae), coffee family (Rubiaceae) and orchid family (Orchidaceae). But in numbers of individual plants spread over the globe, the grasses are unsurpassed. They have a wider range than any other plant family except for lichens and algae.
RAIN is the seedlike fruit of certain species of e grass family (Gramineae) that serves as a isic food of man and of many other animals, ic plants that produce such fruit are also called ains. The most important grains are rice, wheat, rn (maize), oats, barley, and rye. Others are ain sorghums and millets. The term "grain" is metimes also used in reference to buckwheat, x, and other species that are not members of 3 grass family.
GRASSLAND, a plant community—an association of growing plants—in which perennial grasses (family Gramineae) are the dominant or most characteristic species. There are few woody shrubs present, and trees are either lacking or rare. Other grasses, both annual and perennial, are usually associated with the dominant grasses. Only in special situations is a grassland composed of a single grass species. |
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